Brush holder



June 26, 1923.

1,460,152 J. s. DEAN BRUSH HOLDER Filed Sent. 24 1920 Fly 3 WITNESSES: 1 13 INVENTOR MM J012I2 D8412 ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1923.

UNITED STATES 1,460,152 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. DEAN, 0F EDGIEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING 00., A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

BRUSH HOLDER.

A ieatienmed September 24, 1920. Serial No. 412,421.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN S. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and'a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Brush Holders, of which the following is a speciiication. p Y

My invention relates to brush holders for dynamo-electric machines, and it has particular relation to yieldable brush-retaining means therefor.

Heretofore, it has been customary, in the construction of brush-holders of the aboveindicated character to construct the brushretaining portions or brush-boxes thereof, with integral or rigid walls. It has been observed, however, that in such construction,

the vertical movement of the brush within the box, caused by the irregularities of the commutator cylinder with which it is maintained in constant contact, wears away the sides of the brush. Such reduction in the size of the brush results in a loose and imperfect fit within the box, which materially impairs electrical contact therewith.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a device of the character described, in which one of the walls of the box may be constructed independently of the main portion thereof, and is yielda-bly maintained in constant engagement with the brush notwithstanding reduction of the cross-sectional area of a brush caused by wear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a brush-holder constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the brush-holder illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a brush-holder illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, a brush-holder, of any preferred construction or material, is illustrated as comprising an integral frame member 1, of box-like construction, having side walls 2, front wall 3, rear wall 4: and bottom portion 5. The side walls 2 are preferably formed with outwardly projecting lugs 6 having apertures 7 formed therein. Vertically extending insulated posts 8, which are secured in the apertures 7, are adapted to be secured to the frame of a dynamo-electric machine.

A plurality of contact terminals 9, which are secured to the walls 2 of the frame 1, are adapted to receive current conducting leads, not shown. The front wall 3 of the member 1 is preferably formed with a vertically disposed rectangular channel 10 adapted to receive a plurality of vertically movable brushes 11.

A plate 12- is mounted on the wall 2- by means of a plurality of outwardly extending screw-threaded rods 13 which are suitably secured to the front wall 2 of the memher 1. The plate 12 is yieldably maintained in constant engagement with the brushes 11 by means of a plurality of coil springs 14. which surround the rods 18 and which are maintained in constant engagement with the plate 12, by means of nuts 15 and lock nuts 16.

A plurality of angular retaining members 17 are secured to the side walls of the member 1 and are adapted to limit the outward movement of the plate 12 upon the rods 18. The channel 10 is of less depth than the thickness of the brushes 11, which permits the plate 12 to be in constant engagement with the brushes.

Brush fingers 18 are journalled for vertically pivotal movement upon a transverse shaft 19, mounted in the side walls 2 of the member 1 and are maintained in yieldable engagement with the brushes 11 by means of springs 20. The desired tension of the springs 20 is maintained by ratchet and pawl mechanism 21.

By means of this arrangement, the brushes 11 are constantly maintained in contact with the brush-holder notwithstanding the amount of wear occasioned by the frictional engagement therewith.

I claim as my invention:

1. A brush-holder provided with a brush box having a movable side for yieldably maintaining a brush in constant sliding contact therewith.

2. A brush-holder provided with a brush box having a movable wall, a brush disposed within said box, means for yieldably maintaining said wall in contact with said brush, and means for yieldably forcing said brush slidably through said box from one end thereof.

3. A brush-holder provided with a channel within which a brush is adapted to be slidably mounted, a guide adjacent to said channel, a plate mounted on said guide and adapted to Substantially close said channel, and means for yieldably maintaining said plate in operative position.

4. A brush-holder provided with a channel, a movable brush slidably disposed with in said channel, a plate movably mounted adjacent to said channel and means for yieldably maintaining said plate in contact with said brush with a pressure sufficient to ensure a firm electrical and mechanical connection while permitting sliding of the brush in the normal operation thereof.

5. A brush-holder provided with a channel, a brush slidably mounted in said channel, a plurality of extensions adjacent to said channel, a plate movablymounted on said extensions, and means for yieldably maintaining said plate in contact with said brushes.

6. A brush-holder provided with a chantember, 1920.

nel, a brush slidably mounted in said channel, a plurality of rods secured to said holder adjacent to said channel, a late slidably mounted on said rods, a plura ity of springs carried by said rods, for yieldably maintaining said plate in constant engagement with said brush.

7. A brush-holder provided with a channel, a brush slidably mounted in said channel, a plurality of rods secured to said holder adjacent to said channel, a plate slidably mounted on said rods, a pluralit of springs carried by said rods for yiel ably maintaining said plates in constant engagement With saidbrush, and means for limiting the movement of said plate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of Sep- JOHN S. DEAN. 

